U.S. commission seeks new info on Chinese army

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has released a request for proposals from interested parties who could provide a one-time, unclassified report on the demographics of the Chinese army and the personnel challenges associated with recruitment and retention.

The commission, established by Congress in 2000 to monitor the national security implications of the bilateral economic relationship between the United States and China, wants the report to address several key questions, according to the RFP.

For example, what do Chinese leaders assess to be the most significant shortfalls in personnel quality? Also, what types of education or expertise does China most prize in its recruits, and how successfully is it recruiting citizens with that background?

The commission also wants an update on what portion of Chinese servicemembers are conscripted into compulsory service, rather than being voluntarily recruited.

Responses to the RFP are due Feb. 10.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said China is the Pentagon’s “pacing challenge” and, like the previous administration, has placed the nation at the center of his upcoming National Defense Strategy.